Water replaces diesel
February 22, 2011
Project goal: Replacing diesel-powered electricity with clean energy in rural parts of Peru
Project scale: 43 micro-hydropower plants to supply electricity for 4,000 people in the Cajamarca region
Project costs: Around 65,000 euros per plant
According to international studies, Peru is among the countries hardest hit by climate change. The general population regularly struggles with the fall-out from natural disasters, water shortages and agricultural degradation. But experts believe that there is substantial potential for gaining electricity from hydropower in the South American country – which already depends on hydropower stations for 60 percent of its electricity. The percentage could be even higher, were the more remote parts of the country not off-grid. One solution could be micro-hydropower plants – and one development aid organization is helping locals install them in the Peruvian outback.
A film by Michael Altenhenne